Manual Point Operation. HELP

[Tiddles]

My next micro OO layout construction only has 3 points on it.

I would like to operate these manually from behind the back board.

Looking for a simple and very reliable way of doing this. It would be an above board system as there is only a 1" by 2" frame supporting the ply board.

Happy to buy products to do this as I am not a very confident modeler.

[Mountain]

Take a look at Gem products.
I've made my own. Basic details on Llwyndrissi Halt thread in the section of layouts under construction section of this forum. You will find them on pages 4 and 5 or thereabouts.

[Dad-1]

2" x 1", O.K which way around as 2" is loads, even 1" should give room for under board mechanisms.
Worth a look at My HSII - Kadee Experiments thread and you'll see two points worked by metal rods.

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=50741&start=30#p628357

Geoff T.

[Bufferstop]

Wire in tube or push rods are the most suitable for a micro layout. Run on the surface there's little between them. Push rods are simply that metal plastic or even wood that doesn't bend, with a wire link to the tie bar. They need some kind of tube around them to keep them out of contact with the scenery. Wire in tube uses piano wire in PTFE or brass tube. It's slightly more adaptable in that the tube can be laid around gentle curves for points not parallel to the edge of the board. Take a look at these for method and supplies.
For just three points you could do a lot worse than buying three longish plastic three or four millimetre knitting needles, they even come with knobs moulded on the end. Plastic drinking straws should suffice to keep scenic materials out of contact with them.

[TimberSurf]

Here are a few suppliers
https://anticsonline.uk/N1587_MerControl/index.html
http://modratec.com/
https://balsamart.co.uk/store/index.php ... 20a&page=2
Many use R/C linkages too.

There are actually a lot of old threads on this forum too!

[luckymucklebackit]

I am planning a similar manually operated extension to the layout, I am planning to butcher the spokes from an old bicycle wheel and operate via them

[mumbles]

I've Used bits of rail, solder the pin to go through the point. Couple of U tacks to hold it. Easy and cheep

this should be a gif but if it doesn't work... link

http://www.mumbles274.co.uk/009/pointmech.gif

[Mountain]

Old bicycle spokes are easy to get hold off. I have many old wheels. Either use them as they are or take a hammer to flatten an end and it widens while being flattened. A hole can then be drilled through to make it useful.
A bicycle spoke threading tool can also be purchased (These are not cheap and can't be used with stainless steel spokes... Only ordinary spokes) where one can thread spokes. I've made decent axles by this method using the thread for holding the wheels on.

[b308]

I've Used bits of rail, solder the pin to go through the point. Couple of U tacks to hold it. Easy and cheep

I use rail as well, though laid in a groove in the baseboard surface and connected to a DPDT slider switch at the baseboard edge to switch the frog polarity. I don't like bits that stick out from the baseboard edge on portable layouts, it's too easy to damage things...